Though Charlottesville has generally great weather throughout the year, we’ve been having several rainy, cloudy days lately. It’s made us think about how Charlottesville is a great place not only to be outside and enjoying the views, but also for some indoor fun. We thought it would be timely to share a blog on the movie-goers experience that’s available in Charlottesville!
There are two theaters now in C’Ville that offer a comfortable movie experience where you can eat a meal and have an alcoholic drink as you watch. We think this makes for a fantastic date night, because you can get your dinner and your movie all at once! We’ll detail the different experience you get at each theater to help you make your decision of which is right for your movie night.
First, there’s the Violet Crown. It’s been in C’Ville for a couple of years now, so still new to the scene. This theater can be found at the end of the Downtown Mall, and it has a clean, modern feel. As you walk in, you get to pick your seat while you buy your ticket. This is nice because there is no rush to get into the theater and save your seat. You can even buy the ticket online much earlier to make sure you have the seat you want.
It’s great that you don’t have to rush to your seats, because if you arrive early enough, you’ll be able to enjoy a drink at the bar, or even sit down for dinner if you choose. However, if you get there right on time, you can order your meal and drinks outside of the theater and take them in with you. They have a variety for great tasting food and craft beer and wine with several local options.
We think the seats here are the comfiest of most any movie theater we’ve been in . There is a fold out tray you can use for your food and nice cup holders for your drink. It’s one of our favorite movie going experiences!
The second option for a similar experience, and even newer to the scene in C’Ville, is The Alamo Draft House. Located in the 5th Street Station plaza, it’s much larger than the Violet Crown. There is an entire bar and restaurant area if you choose to eat and drink separate from your movie, or you can order your food right from your seats in the theater, which is nice.
Once the movie starts, you can even write your order on a slip and the waiter will come and get it quietly without interrupting viewers. It is a pretty efficient process, and nice to get a snack once you realize you’d like one.
Their specialty is their extensive draft list and spiked milkshakes, but they also have delicious food! Perfect for enjoying with the movie. They also have fun events and themed movie nights that they host pretty often, so check those out if you are a movie buff.
It’s hard to pick which theater we like best- I guess it all depends on the experience you want! Both are cozy and extremely enjoyable. We hope this helps you next time you’re visiting and you feel like dinner and a movie. Save time and do it all at once!
